Aviation Management Officer

About the Role

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Wildlife Services (WS) program seeks a professional to provide nationwide strategic leadership, integration, coordination, and oversight for aviation management, safety, and tactical and strategic issues.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

• Basic Requirement:
  • Education: Major study in accounting, business administration, business or commercial law, commerce, economics, engineering, finance, industrial management, statistics, traffic management, transportation, motor mechanics, or other fields related to the position.
  • OR Experience: Demonstrated knowledge of the transportation function(s) relevant to the position.
• GS-14 Level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level, including:
  • Analyzing and monitoring the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of a national aviation safety and training program, and making significant decisions related to it.
  • Building and maintaining effective national partnerships with diverse internal and external entities to advocate for aviation safety, training, and low-level aviation operations for wildlife management.
  • Interpreting laws, regulations, legal precedents, and regulatory processes affecting public and commercial aviation activities, including seeking exemptions as needed.
  • Managing the maintenance and modification of general aviation and transport aircraft to evaluate aircraft for agency use and comparing performance with wildlife management mission requirements.

  Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

Transcripts: Required if the position necessitates specific coursework or a degree in a designated field. Education must be from an accredited institution.

Experience: Includes paid and unpaid experience, such as volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) or other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, community, student, social). Volunteer experience is credited if it builds relevant competencies.

Responsibilities

The duties described are for the full-performance level. Developmental roles may involve assignments of more limited scope, performed with less independence and complexity. Responsibilities include:

• Developing wildlife aviation directives and guidelines to ensure safe and effective aviation operations.
• Ensuring all WS aviation operations comply with applicable Federal and State laws.
• Advising and providing authoritative counsel at all levels of management.
• Overseeing all aviation safety and training in WS programs.
• Developing and implementing safety and training for unmanned aerial systems.
• Providing nationwide leadership, direction, coordination, and oversight of WS aviation management.

Pay

Salary range: $125,776 – $182,316 USD per year.

About APHIS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) facilitates domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and protects the health and care of animals and plants. APHIS is an emergency response agency, and employees may be assigned to temporary duty to support emergency programs.

Learn more about working at APHIS and the agency’s mission on the APHIS careers site.

Position dates: August 7, 2026 – August 13, 2026.